Connecticut Turnpike Token Earrings

Of all of the tokens we've used to make jewelry at Repurposed, these are undoubtedly the shortest-lived.

The Connecticut Turnpike was opened in 1958. Unlike other states in the Northeast which issued a ticket when you entered the system and took payment when you exited, the toll roads in Connecticut used a barrier toll system. Each time you passed one of the toll plazas, you paid a quarter (initially).

In November 1982, in an attempt to alleviate the bottlenecking at the toll plazas, drivers could purchase a roll of these tokens. For $7.00, you received $10.00 worth of tolls. But they weren't around long. At the end of 1985, Connecticut abolished tolls on the Turnpike.

Even though they were in use for only three years, the tokens were around long enough to cause some controversy. Some savvy commuters discovered that the tokens issued by the Connecticut Turnpike were just about the same size as those used in New York City's subway. Since they cost a lot less, Connecticut's tokens started showing up in the MTA's fareboxes. By the time the Turnpike tokens were retired, over two million of them had been used for discounted rides on the NYC subway.

On one side of each of these tokens, it says CONNECTICUT TURNPIKE around the edge and in the center, along with an outline of the state showing the route of the Turnpike, GOOD FOR 1 FARE. The other side has the Connecticut state seal, which includes the motto QUI TRANSTULIT SUSTINET, meaning, "He who transplanted still sustains."

These earrings are made with hypoallergenic, nickel-free, lead-free ear hooks.